A 1,000-year-old Han Dynasty compound has been discovered in central China's Henan Province. Archaeologists say this is the earliest construction ever found in China.

The compound was buried in the sands of the old riverbed of the Yellow River in Neihuang County in Henan Province. It occupies an area of 1,000 square meters. Three sections of the compound are well preserved, but so far only one section has been excavated and the roof, foundation, and earth-made wall completely cleaned out.

Xie Chensheng, advisor of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, said: "This is the first time a complete Han Dynasty building has been discovered. So it has a very high historical value."

Experts say that the Han Dynasty saw the first boom of massive buildings. But wooden structures are easily damaged and that's why the ones from early dynasties are rarely seen today. The Neihuang compound is a precious discovery for research on ancient Chinese architecture.

(CCTV.com August 14, 2003)